A 49-year-old man has been left with life-changing injuries after being attacked hours after Pride in London on the 8th July He was struck in the back, the impact from which broke his spine.
He was walking along Greek Street at around 1:30 AM on Sunday morning towards Tottenham Court Road, where he planned to catch a bus home.
He also had his mobile phone stolen.
The victim was able to make his way to Stratford Underground Station where he was given medical treatment by officers before being taken to the hospital. He was found to have suffered a broken back and continues to receive treatment.
Details from the Metropolitan Police suggest that “offensive language heard by the victim shortly before the assault” so it is being treated as a hate crime.
Detectives have carried out extensive CCTV enquiries to identify the suspect(s).
They would like to hear anyone who witnessed the assault which happened following Pride in London. The area would have been busy at the time. Officers would also like to speak with anyone who helped him off the tube at Stratford.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Community Safety Unit at Westminster via 101.
Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.
Big Brother is 18-years-old. Hard to believe but this year marks the 18th series of Big Brother and the 22nd of Celebrity Big Brother. It was widely reported that this season of the British version would be the last, on Channel 5 at least, but Rylan, who currently hosts Bit On The Side has hinted that it could go on for at least another two years.
The show has been on Channel 5 since 2011, when it moved from Channel 4, the show’s original home.
In a Q&A, speaking about how great BB is he said, “It’s amazing, and it’s amazing to be a part of TV history like that….LET’S MAKE IT 20!”
He recently took a break from hosting, but he said, “I’m over the moon after our extended break to be back where I belong. Looking after my baby. Not a series goes by that I don’t get excited about a new launch”.
Well indeed. Are you a fan, would you like to see another two series?
The UK government’s LGBT Action Plan sounds like the blueprint for some upcoming wargame, rather than a 32-page, 75-commitment based document aimed at pulling down barriers for the LGBT community in both their public and private lives. Yet one promise causing the most interest appears to commitment to finally ban the so-called ‘gay conversion therapy’:
“We will bring forward proposals to end the practice of conversion therapy in the UK. These activities are wrong, and we are not willing to let them continue. Led by the Government Equalities Office, we will fully consider all legislative and non-legislative options to prohibit promoting, offering or conducting conversion therapy. Our intent is protect people who are vulnerable to harm or violence, whether that occurs in a medical, commercial or faith-based context. We are not trying to prevent LGBT people from seeking legitimate medical support or spiritual support from their faith leader in the exploration of their sexual orientation or gender identity”.
It is rarely the child who finds the problem with their own sexuality once they understand and accept it, rather it is those around them; those who would otherwise provide support. LGBT charities still exist to tackle those occasions when parents are unaccepting – if you want to appreciate the real scope, just take a glance at the homelessness statistics and the functions of the Albert Kennedy Trust. The government’s promise on introducing both legislative and non-legislative options to prohibit “promoting, offering or conducting conversion therapy” is an important and substantive change in tenor that should not be underestimated.
The conversion therapy makes the fundamental assumption that sexual orientation is a psychological disorder that can be ‘cured’. Previously, while there was no general acceptance of it, the UK government’s position was that the regulation and code of ethics for any regulated practitioner would prevent LGBT individuals being offered or undergoing this treatment. The government would not legislate for the sake of it and nor would they criminalise the conduct.
There is not harmony or unified thinking about this across either Europe or the rest of the world. Some countries, like Brazil and Argentina, and a few US states have banned it but great swathes still take no real affirmative action.
How can the Government ‘Ban’ Conversion Therapies?
The government has many tools in its war cupboard when approaching these. The big guns of the arsenal could be the criminalisation of the therapy itself, but it can just drive the practice further underground and some would argue that it is a practice which people ‘choose’ to undertake. Criminalising the promotion of it is another route, or introducing hefty fines for those practitioners caught conducting or condoning it. How would you regulate it though? Those who are professionals are already regulated by their professional body and who have already taken steps to prevent it.
Some, including myself, have argued previously about how the government was simply burying their heads in the sand on this point and was failing vulnerable children who are not being taken to regulated professionals, but camps involving the most inhumane physical and psychological torment.
Whichever way the government shapes this, a root and branch approach is going to be needed to get this from the core and strip it back to a fundamental understanding in all sections of society. Gender identity and sexual orientation already have incredibly high levels of suicide and depression amongst young adults and children. It is important that they see this change and the support that it brings them when society will step in and say, “This is not just wrong, it is abhorrent. This will not be tolerated in any form anymore.”
For the most determined parent, could they still just take their children abroad? How can we protect and prevent this too without a wider consensus in foreign countries as well? I would hope the UK government has a plan to deter this from happening, but what safeguards can they put in place? Here we would hope to see non-legislative change, promoting better understand and LGBT education in schools, building relations with different parts of society and adding these forms of harm to child protection officers in schools and local authorities. The Church of England acknowledged this in 2017. Will other community leaders openly do so too?
The LGBT Action Plan is a tome of information, statistics and ambitious promises. It highlights many other facts, such as disclosure of their sexual orientation at work and the high level of discrimination in the workplace that still remains. While we have legislation in this area already, the absence of real and substantive legislation or debate in the area of gay conversion therapy is astounding. Whether the government of the day decides to criminalise the practice, or place deterrents in some other form, this will be hailed by the LGBT community as a step towards not just equality but basic, human dignity.
The more cynical side of my mind remains with a question though: will the government be able to create a robust enough system of ‘prevention’ which is better than the ‘cure’?
Andrew Spearman is an award-winning lawyer and Director of A City Law Firm
A North London LGBT+ venue, Her Upstairs has closed abruptly, without warning for unspecified “legal reasons”.
North London’s gay scene has been dealt another blow after the popular LGBT and drag venue, Her Upstairs, closed with no warning. The venue’s management announced the sudden closure on its Facebook page.
The statement reads,
“It is with great sadness that as of today Her Upstairs is no longer open for business at 18 Kentish Town Road.
“For legal reasons we cannot share the details of this sudden closure.
“We regret that we have had to do this so abruptly and without giving our incredible community a chance to say goodbye to the space.
“Our queer spaces are so vital, but it’s the people, not the bricks and mortar that make the space. We may be lacking in a physical space but we feel each and everyone of our family with us no matter where we go.
“This is a goodbye for the present but not a farewell.
“With love from the Her Upstairs family, stay tuned and we’ll see you very soon.”
The closure comes just a few years after the landmark venue, The Black Cap was forced to close in Camden. The only LGBT venue that now exists in North London in permanent form is Central Station which is close to Kings Cross train station. THEGAYUK.com has been running a campaign called Lost LGBT Scene which keeps track of LGBT venues closures in London since the year 2000. The loss of Her Upstairs take the number of venues closed to around 117.
President Trump‘s star on the Walk Of Fame could be removed permanently after it was destroyed by recent vandalism.
Deciding on whether the star should be retained following its destruction, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce voted unanimously on a resolution which will urge it and the Los Angeles City Council, who decides on who makes the Walk of Fame. to remove it for good.
The vote was taken on Monday night and the agenda item read, “The City Council will consider adopting a resolution urging the Los Angeles City Council and Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to remove President Donald J. Trump’s star from the Hollywood Walk of Fame, due to his disturbing treatment of women and other actions that do not meet the shared values of the City of West Hollywood, the region, state, and country.”
The vote was unanimous.
After the meeting, a council rep emailed The Hollywood Reporter saying, “At this evening’s regular City Council meeting, the West Hollywood City Council voted unanimously to approve the Resolution.”
However, this vote doesn’t necessarily mean that the LA City Council and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will act on its vote.
The LA City Council and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce have never removed any Walk Of Fame stars for reasons of controversy or wrong-doing.
Trump’s star has been vandalised numerous times and completely destroyed twice. The first vandalism happening in 2007. The latest was in July when a 24-year-old activist allegedly took to it with a pick-axe.
Donald’s Trump’s Walk Of Fame star was awarded to him in 2007.
Rick Genest, AKA Zombie Boy’s death was an accident, not a suicide – his family and management insist.
(C) BIGSTOCK
Earlier this week the model Zombie Boy, who famously appeared in Lady Gaga’s 2011 hit, ‘Born This Way’ died at the age of 32. It was first reported that his death was by suicide, but his family has said that his death was actually accidental.
He was found dead at his home in Montreal after falling from a balcony at the back of his resident.
Genest’s manager Karim Leduc told PEOPLE, “For us, the family and close entourage, we feel there’s too many inconsistencies around his death to rule it as a suicide, and for people to jump to conclusions that rapidly was disappointing,
“The balcony from which he fell on the third floor was a very dangerous balcony,” Leduc added. “Just three weeks ago, I visited that balcony with him and was on it with him smoking a cigarette, as well. It’s a balcony that has very small rails/guards — an emergency/fire escape balcony – and he was leaning his back towards it like sitting on the ledge of the rail, and he fell from his backside onto the floor.”
There has been speculation that he jumped rather than fell but Leduc said that Genest had left no note and that he “actually made plans for a couple things that week.”
After the news of his death, Lady Gaga wrote a poignant tribute to Genest on Thursday and stated that he had taken his own life, “The suicide of friend Rick Genest, Zombie Boy is beyond devastating,” she tweeted. “We have to work harder to change the culture, bring Mental Health to the forefront and erase the stigma that we can’t talk about it.”
“If you’re suffering, call a friend or family today,” she added. “We must save each other.”
The suicide of friend Rick Genest, Zombie Boy is beyond devastating. We have to work harder to change the culture, bring Mental Health to the forefront and erase the stigma that we can’t talk about it. If you are suffering, call a friend or family today. We must save each other. pic.twitter.com/THz6x5JlpB
Well. After my speed dating success, I was floating on the clouds. I couldn’t believe it was third time lucky with my date. I’m so excited about him. Let me introduce you to him.
Meet Paul, a 32-year-old funeral director from Windsor. Such a handsome chap with bright blue eyes. Oh my days, those eyes. Excuse the cheesy analogy but I could have gone swimming in his old pork pies.
I must confess, I was a little concerned by his chosen vocation. I’ve always imagined funeral directors to be big burly blokes who look like they could be extras in the Terminator films. And I’ve always pictured them to be rather dull and a possible necrophile.
I can see me getting lynched in the street now by a mob of co-operative funeral care workers. Please excuse my judgemental attitude. I must constantly remind myself of my Christian upbringing. My Sunday school teachers clearly made an impact on me.
Now for some reason, I was feeling rather nervous of a second date with Paul. I felt a fluttering of butterflies deep in my gut. For once, I’m imagining that I might have actually met a man who may be around longer than just for a cup of coffee, the morning after. So I wanted to make a good impression.
My dear friend Natalie suggested that we make up a foursome with her then-girlfriend, Britney. No, not Britney Spears but she did have the similarity in that she was also American. But that’s where the similarities ended.
We opted for a lovely little Italian restaurant in Windsor, the name of which escapes me. My memory is not what it once was.
After all the pleasantries were out of the way, we sat down and the conversation flowed like the Thames at high tide. I could see Paul had a glisten in his eye whenever we looked at each other. Well, I hope that’s what it was and not the reflection of the candle in his pupil. The somersaults my stomach were doing would have been worthy of a gold medal in the Olympics.
As the waiter came to take our order, Paul suggested we share a garlic bread as a starter. Anyone who knows me well, will know I do NOT share food. Under any circumstance.
The mere suggestion of sharing a garlic bread made my eyebrows raise. Yes, they actually raised. I was still a week away from my botox top-up appointment at the time.
Natalie knowing my sheer greed gaged my reaction and kicked me under the table. And gave me one of her death stares. She’s a teacher so she has this look perfected. I gulped and begrudgingly agreed to share a starter. You may be sat there reading this, calling me a fat bastard. But I love my food and I want it all to myself. Maybe this is another thing I’m doing wrong that’s contributing to my undateable status.
The reveal
A few more Italian Pinots later and Natalie started interrogating my poor date.
“Would you like children one day? Because Mark would.”
I nearly dropped my glass of Pinot. Of course, being such an alcoholic, I managed to grip it tight enough to ensure this didn’t happen. Bit forward for a second date question, I thought to myself but at least it wasn’t me who posed the question.
“I already have children.” Paul immediately replied.
Just at that precise moment, I was taking a gulp of Pinot and to say I spat it out and nearly choked on it would not be a dramatization.
“You’ve got children? Plural?” I asked.
“Yes”, he seemed perfectly happy to talk about it and I did my best to pretend the subject hadn’t shocked me.
“Oh my god. Boy or girl?” I asked, genuinely intrigued. I’d never met a gay man with a child.
“I have three sons.”
Well, you could have heard a pin drop in that restaurant. No one said a word.
As my dear mum always tells her friends, I’ve never been speechless since the day she sent me to speech therapy when I was four. But I was certainly speechless now.
Whilst we’re on the subject of my mum sending me to speech therapy. Yes, I understand people may find it hard to believe but I hadn’t actually started talking and being as though I was four years old, she started to worry. Hence why she marched me to speech therapy. But ever since that day, my mum always says she regretted sending me.
But I’m digressing as usual. Back to the bombshell that had just been dropped in the Italian restaurant. As my friends will tell you, I don’t handle myself in the best manner during serious situations. I have what you might call a nervous laugh. And God strike me down, this is how I reacted to this situation.
Natalie, having a tad more decorum than me, kicked me under the table to indicate this was not an appropriate moment to activate my nervous laugh. As if I have control over it…
“Why are you kicking me?” I barked at Natalie, not immediately clocking on to why she had booted me with her size 5 Doc Martens.
Finally processing the information, I could see this was a brave bit of information to reveal so early on in our dating period. I grabbed his hand.
I could tell we both meant something to each other because he said he had never revealed this information to a potential boyfriend before. And so I leant over and kissed him on the lips. I’m not one for PDA’S but this just felt the right moment.
“I hope I get to see you again after tonight”, he said.
The model, Zombie Boy has died, from an apparent suicide at the age of 32.
(C) BIGSTOCK
Rick Genest, known professionally as Zombie Boy has died at the age of 32. He was found just days before what would have been his 33rd birthday.
Most notably he starred in Lady Gaga’s music video for the LGBT+ anthem, ‘Born This Way’ in 2011. He was found deceased at his home in Montreal, Canada.
It is believed that he committed suicide. There are no details at this time surrounding the cause of his death.
Lady Gaga was one of the first to pay tribute to the model. Taking to Twitter she wrote,
“The suicide of friend Rick Genest, Zombie Boy is beyond devastating. We have to work harder to change the culture, bring Mental Health to the forefront and erase the stigma that we can’t talk about it. If you are suffering, call a friend or family today. We must save each other”.
The suicide of friend Rick Genest, Zombie Boy is beyond devastating. We have to work harder to change the culture, bring Mental Health to the forefront and erase the stigma that we can’t talk about it. If you are suffering, call a friend or family today. We must save each other. pic.twitter.com/THz6x5JlpB
“Science tells us that it takes 21 days to form a habit, if you are suffering from Mental Health issue I beckon for today to be your first day or a continuation of the work you’ve been doing. Reach out if you’re in pain, and if you know someone who is, reach out to them too”.
Science tells us that it takes 21 days to form a habit, if you are suffering from Mental Health issue I beckon for today to be your first day or a continuation of the work you’ve been doing. Reach out if you’re in pain, and if you know someone who is, reach out to them too. pic.twitter.com/4pVR5xyoH6
Management for Rick posted a tribute on Facebook, saying they were “shocked and pained” by his death.
“Rico was loved by all those who had the chance to meet him and know him,” said the post.
“We received the unfortunate news at the beginning of the afternoon and members of the team have come to support his family and relatives in this dark and difficult moment.
“We want to present our deepest condolences… Thank you zb for these beautiful moments in your company and for your radiant smile.”
If you are in the UK, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 if you are struggling with mental health issues.
Vodafone cements its ongoing support for the LGBT+ community by updating a raft of policies to help transgender customers.
This is how you do business.
Telcoms giant, Vodafone has announced a series of trans-inclusive initiatives, as part of the company’s commitment to improving the lives of employees and customers.
The announcement comes ahead of Vodafone’s sponsorship of Brighton Pride this weekend, part of Pride events throughout the country which the company supports.
New initiatives include:
Vodafone’s ‘Name Change’ process has been simplified and there is no need for a customer to visit a store or speak to a customer agent to do this. Instead, it can be by post; it simply requires one form to be completed with proof of the name change. This is intended to remove anxiety which may arise from the need to speak to someone. Full details can be accessed here: Name Change Process
A new ‘life events’ section has been added to Vodafone’s customer website to provide easier access to information on the ‘Name Change’ process. Vodafone has also made it easier to search and find relevant information.
For Pay Monthly customers, 24 months of bills will now be accessible, which can be used to support applications for a Gender Recognition Certificate.
A specialist team has been established to respond to ‘living as me’ requests, available on livingasme@help.vodafone.co.uk
Customers can also adopt the gender-neutral Mx prefix via our live chat, voice and retail channels.
Vodafone is a proud supporter of lesbian, bi, gay and trans communities and recognises that there are key moments when colleagues and customers may need additional support.
Vodafone has also been listening to LGBT+ communities and in particular, the experience trans people have when engaging with large organisations. Independent cross-sector research in April this year indicated that:
Trans and non-binary people felt it was a battle dealing with large organisations.
They felt they needed to ‘come out’ every time they engaged a customer service team.
The name change process caused anxiety, was prone to errors and felt unfair when compared to the experience of other groups.
Contact centre agents and in-store advisors were quick to make judgements based on appearance and by sound of voice.
Gendered selections were exclusive and did not reflect all identities.
New biometric processes could be inflexible and proved a challenge for those transitioning.
In July 2018, the UK Government published results from a national LGBT+ survey which saw more than 108,000 LGBT+ people take part and provide insight into LGBT+ life across the UK. In light of the findings, Vodafone launched an LGBT+ Retail Ambassador programme to train and support in-store employees with LGBT+ topics. This has led to the rainbow symbol being incorporated into name badges and more than 100 retail stores have come out to support local pride events up and down the country. This complements existing training initiatives such as the Vodafone Way of Care that incorporates LGBT+ scenarios into our frontline training.
The company has introduced a customer reporting process that now tracks negative experiences LGBT+ customers may have experienced. This will enable Vodafone to get faster feedback from LGBT+ customers on where change is needed to improve how we support customers.
These customer initiatives build on work Vodafone is already doing to support colleagues, which this year has included launching a “Friends of LGBT” accreditation programme and a series of initiatives to support young LGBT+ people when they start their first job. This includes offering all new graduates an LGBT+ buddy and supporting 400 graduates through inclusive leadership training.
The clever bods over at CocktailsAndCocktalk.com have unearthed a treasure. A completely starkers picture of Hollywood star, Channing Tatum.
We thought we’d seen it all in Magic Mike – but there was always something missing now you can see little Tatum in all its glory.
The picture comes from a coffee table book (so the picture is v tasteful) called Sombra, by Ruven Afanador and it dates back to when Channing was a promising model. I mean he’s even wearing a trilby hat. How much more class do you want? The picture dates back to before he became a bonafide film star.
“I have no problem dressing up, I actually enjoy it. However, I worry that by dressing up as a huge gay icon on Pride as a straight male could be found offensive by the gay community.”
(C) BIGSTOCK
Is it a sort of gay culture appropriation thing?
Honestly doll, don’t fret. Pride, in our humble opinion, is a day when you can be whoever you want to be. Just as long as you’re respectful to the whole meaning and purpose of pride.
This incredibly considerate straight-identifying man in the UK took time to write into a gay Reddit to find out whether the gay community would find it offensive if he dresses up as the late, great Freddie Mercury at Brighton pride.
He writes,
“To start this off, a friend of mine has been trying to convince me to go to Pride (in Brighton (UK) where I live) as Freddie Mercury for about 3/4 years now. It all started when I jokingly left my moustache when shaving and he said I was a spitting image of Mercury, minus the teeth.”
Fair enough go already… He continues
“I have no problem dressing up, I actually enjoy it.
Uh Huh… go on…
“However, I worry that by dressing up as a huge gay icon on Pride as a straight male could be found offensive by the gay community. I would never want to offend anyone in the gay community, and I have friends that are gay and I’d especially not want to offend them given my closeness to them. Would any of you find it offensive for a straight guy to dress up as Freddie Mercury at Pride?
“Thanks in advance”
So polite.
So what do you think? One responder on the forum wrote, “I don’t think it would be offensive, but I do think that Pride is a time for queer people to celebrate who they are and for allies to participate as a spectator. I would ask and have asked my allies attending to not dress up. Just my opinion, but i wouldn’t be offended if I saw you”.
Let’s not forget Rami Malek is playing Freddie Mercury in an upcoming biopic of the band Queen.
